Revisiting Constitutional Patriotism Beyond Constitutionalism

Among many formulations towards an arbitrated definition of European identity, Jurgen Habermas’s interpretation of the term through the concept of constitutional patriotism is worth scrutinizing. The notion of constitutional patriotism was especially relevant whilst the drafting and discussing the possible implications of an EU Constitution in 2004. However the “no” votes in referendums in France and Netherlands abolished the possibility of a constitution for EU, thus changing the nature and the focus of discussions on European identity. Despite all this Habermas’s constitutional patriotism has still plenty to offer to contribute to those debates. This book aims to elaborate the post-constitutional debates and the possibility of the evolution of the concept, constitutional patriotism, beyond constitutionalism. The new forms of interpretation of the term and its relevance to European identity and thereby the real feasibility of the term is thus inquired. Certain advantages and weak points of Jurgen Habermas’s ‘constitutional patriotism’ concept in creating a shared feeling of belonging and the criticisms against the term are also analyzed.